Engine frame



y 8, 1957 A. E. KOLBE 2,793,625

ENGINE FRAME Filed 001:. 1, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTOR NEY y 1957 A. E. KOLBE 2,793,625

ENGINE FRAME Filed Oct. 1, 1954 3 Sheebs-Sheet 2 INVENTOR PQQM ATTO QNEY United States Patent Ofice 2,793,625 Patented May 28, 1957 ENGINE FRAME Adelbert E. Kolbe, Detroit, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application October 1, 1954, Serial No. 459,617

9 Claims. (Cl. 121-194) This invention relates to engine frames and has particular relation to fabricated or assembled box frames for high speed, high compression ratio, internal combustion engines for automotive and other purposes.

It has been the practice heretofore to employ the cylinder block of an internal combustion engine as the principal frame structure for the engine. In order to construct the cylinder block rigidly enough to withstand the stresses involved in the operation of a high speed, high compression ratio internal combustion engine it has been necessary to make many walls of the block of excessive thickness, to reinforce the Walls with ribs, to extend the walls a substantial distance below the horizontal plane of the crankshaft of the engine and generally to make the block heavier and more expensive than has now been found to be required. The walls which have extended below the horizontal plane of the crankshaft of the engine have actually constituted parallel I beams forming a lower frame extension for supporting the engine. Strong and rigid heads have been employed but these have not been made effectively to serve as parts of the engine frame. The heads have merely been supported by the engine frame thereby perhaps requiring a stronger engine frame. Inlet manifold structures also have been employed between the engine heads but these have not been constructed in such manner as to connect the heads and the block in a manner providing a single structural unit of the principal structural elements employed in constructing the engine.

It is now proposed to eliminate the lower frame part of the engine block, to construct the engine block to reduce the block to the minimum size required to enclose the engine cylinders and to provide cavities and passages required for the operation of the engine, to employ more of the walls forming the cavities and passages required for the operation of the engine as structural means for reinforcing the block, to provide larger and more extensive end walls for transversely reinforcing the block, to employ engine heads that are particularly constructed to provide rigid beams that form an effective part of the frame structure of the engine, to provide a truss structure between the engine heads and the ends of the engine block and that may serve as a keystone for structurally uniting the heads and the engine block and to provide a relatively rigid box structure forming a unitary frame for the engine. It is further proposed to employ a flywheel housing on the rear wall of the engine that effectively serves as linear bracing means between the block of the engine and the transmission for the engine. It will be noted that there are substantially no structural members embraced in the engine frame that do not serve other functional purposes required in the operation of the engine.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view-of a V-type internal combustion engine embracing the: invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of theengine illustrated by Figure 1 and having parts thereof broken away and shown in longitudinal section to better illustrate the interior construction of the engine.

Figure 3 is a plan view on a reduced scale of the engine disclosed by Figures 1 and 2 and having certain parts thereof removed for better illustrating the invention.

Figure 4 is a rear end view of the engine block with the clutch housing part of the engine frame assembled thereon.

The engine 10 embodying the invention comprises an engine block 11, engine heads 12, a manifold support or truss structure 13 and a clutch housng 14. The heads 12 may be secured to the block by bolts 1.6, the truss structure may be secured to the heads 12 and the block 11 by bolts 17 and the clutch housing may be secured to the block 11 by bolts 18, thereby providing an engine frame indicated generally at 19. The frame 19 is adapted to support the crankshaft 21 of the engine which is mounted in bearings 22 formed as a part of the block 11. The crankshaft 21 drives pistons 23 which are mounted to reciprocate in cylinders 24 formed in obliquely disposed rows in the block 11. The crankshaft 21 also drives the camshaft 25 of the engine which is mounted in the: engine frame 19 on bearings 26 formed in the block 11. The camshaft 24 drives the valve actuating mechanism 2'7 for each row of cylinders of the engine through push rods 28. The crankshaft 21 may be enclosed at the lower extremity of the block 11 by an oil pan 29.

The engine block 11 may be formed in any suitable manner to provide transversely disposed front and rear end walls 31 and 32, spaced and transversely disposed intermediate walls 33, obliquely disposed pairs of inner and outer side walls 3436 and 37-38, rows of cylinder walls 39 between the inner and outer side walls 3436 and 37-38, and inner and outer transverse walls 41 and 42. The pairs of inner and outer side walls 34-36 and 37-38 merge at the opposite ends thereof with the end Walls 31 and 32 and at the outer and inner extremities thereof with the transverse walls 41 and 42. The inner and outer ends of the cylinder walls 39 also merge with the inner and outer transverse walls 41 and 42 with the cylinders 24 extending therethrough. The spaced and intermediate transverse walls 33 merge with the inner transverse walls 42 land with the inner side walls 34 and 36. A bridging wall 41 merges with and extends between the inner extremities of the inner side walls 34 and 37 and with the inner extremities of the inner transverse walls 42. The bearings 22 for the crankshaft 21 and the bearings 26 for the camshaft 24 are formed in the end walls 31 and 32 and in the intermediate transverse walls 33.

The engine heads 12 are formed to provide end walls 42, inner and outer side walls 43 and 44 and inner and outer transverse walls 46 and 47 respectively. The inner and outer side walls 43 and 44 and the inner and outer transverse walls 46 and 47 merge with each other and with the end walls 42.

The manifold support or truss structure 13 comprises side walls 48 and a connecting wall 49 extending between the side walls 48 and throughout the length of the block 11 with the opposite ends of the connecting wall 49 overlapping the upper edges of the end walls 31 and 32.

The lower extremities of the outer side Walls 36 and 38 and the lower extremities of the inner transverse walls 42 of the block 11 may merge in a securing flange 51 sired angle with respect to one another and obliquely and diverging outwardly with respect to the central vertical plane through the axis of rotation of the crankshaft 21. The outer surfaces of the outer transverse walls 41 of the block 11 may be plane surfaces extending normally to the axes of the cylinders 24. In the present instance it is considered preferable to have the upper and outer edges of the end Walls 31 and 32 extend inwardly in the planes of the outer surfaces of the outer transverse walls 41 and to terminate in connecting edges extending across the upper extremities of the front and rear walls 31 and 32 in a horizontal plane normal to the central vertical plane of the engine 10. The'engaging surfaces of the inner side walls 43 of the heads 12 and the side walls 48 of the manifold support structure 13 diverge outwardly from the central vertical plane of the engine to make the structure 13 easy to remove and to re-assemble. The bolts 17 by which the side walls 48 are secured to the side walls 33 also secure the opposite ends of the connecting wall 49 to the connecting edges at the upper extremities of the end walls 31 and 32 of the block 11. The connecting wall 49 between the side walls 48 is constructed both longitudinally and transversely of the engine to provide a plurality of longitudinally ldlSPOSECl passages 52 and a plurality of transversely disposed passages 53 which provide structural channel members between the opposite ends of the block 11 and between the heads 12. The opposite ends of the outer walls 54 of the channel members forming transverse passages 53 may extend obliquely downwardly substantially in the planes of the outer transverse walls 47 of the heads 12 to provide relatively continuous structural elements extending across the manifold support structure 13 and the heads 12. The opposite ends of the Walls 56 forming the inner walls of the channel members in which the transverse passages 53 are formed also extend substantially in the planes of the inner transverse walls 46 of the heads 12 to provide continuous structural elements in the manifold support 13 and in the heads 12. The channel members in which the passages 52 are formed extend lengthwise of the engine and structurally reinforce the connecting wall 49 between the op posite ends of the block 11.

The frame 19 is reinforced lengthwise of the block 11 and between the inner side walls 34 and 37 by a plurality of tubular columns 58 formed in the bridging wall 41. One of the tubular columns 58 may be located where each of the opposite edges of the bridging wall 41 merge with the inner side walls 37 and 33 and the inner transverse walls 42. Another of the tubular columns may be located between the opposite edges of the bridging wall 41. The compartments, cavities and passages in the block 11, the heads 12 and the manifold support structure 13 may be employed in constructing the induction system, the exhaust system, the interior ventilation system, the cooling system, the lubricating system and other systems and mechanical and other features required for the operation of the engine 10.

The power transmission mechanism. with which the engine may be provided is ordinarily constructed to operate as a single mechanical unit within the frame 19 of the engine 10. To provide a rigid fabricated beam extending throughout the length of the engine 10, it is proposed to construct the frame 19 to include the clutch housing 14 and in such a way as to provide a minimum of deflection between the block 11 and the clutch housing 14. To accomplish this it is proposed to construct the middle part of the rear wall 32 of the block 11 to extend substantially above the adjacent outer extremities of the cylinders 24 and to extend the lower part of the rear wall downwardly from the opposite outer extremities of the cylinders 24 at least to the plane of the lower surface of the flange 51 at the lower extremity of the block 11. Such construction of the rear wall 32 of the block 11 will provide support means 61 extending beyond the outer side walls 36 and 38 of the block 11 and terminating in parallel edges 62 extending downwardly from the outer extremities of the outer side walls 36 and 38. The support means 61 may be made to taper outwardly from the walls 36 and 38 or may be so reinforced with bracing webs that the support means will form rigid and integral parts of the block .lllextending beyond the outer side walls 36 and 38. Since the part of the frame 19 which is formed by the block 11, the heads 12 and the manifold support structure 13 has the form of an elongated box with obliquely disposed sides of substantially equal width, it is proposed to construct the upper part of the housing 14 in such a way as to extend upwardly as far as possible upon the block 11 and to slope downwardly in opposite directions from the middle of the upper part of the block and in such a way as to substantially follow the slope of the two upper walls of the box configuration in which the block, the heads and the manifold support structural elements of the frame 19 are assembled. It is then proposed to construct the sides of the housing 14 in such manner that the front of the housing will extend outwardly and downwardly along the opposite edges of the support means 61. It is proposed to construct both the sides and the upper part of the housing 14 to extend outwardly adjacent the rear wall 32 and to merge in a heavy securing flange indicated at 66. The flange 66 is adapted to be disposed in opposed relation to securing surfaces formed on the rear wall 32 of the block 11 and extending from adjacent the upper extremity thereof downwardly along the opposite edges of the wall to the lower extremities of the supporting flanges 61. Adjacent the flange 66 the side walls 67 of the housing 14 are adapted to extend downwardly and inwardly in such a way as to extend substantially linearly between the outer edges of the flange 66 and supporting flange 68 which is formed on the rear end of the housing 14. The supporting flange 68 is adapted to be rigidly secured to the transmission 69 of the engine by bolts 71. The walls 67 are adapted to extend around the clutch and flywheel mechanism 72 located within the housing 14 adjacent the rear wall of the block. Outwardly of the mechanism 72 it would be possible to extend the side walls 67 normally with respect to the block and to position the securing flange 66 a substantial distance inwardly from the position in which the securing surfaces on the end wall of the block are engaged. However, it is the purpose of this invention to improve the rigidity of the connection between the block 11 and the transmission 69 and this is done by extending the end wall 32 upwardly and outwardly so that the part of the casing 14 adjacent the rear wall 32 may be disposed obliquely to the rear wall 32 to provide the linear bracing means inherent in the walls 67. With such construction it will be apparent that the walls 67 provide a flying buttress structure between the securing means 68 and the outer extremities of the rear wall 32. The flying buttress characteristic of this structure greatly contributes to the formation of an extremely rigid frame extending from the front of the engine to the transmission of the engine. The bolts 18 follow the flange 66 and secure the housing 14 to the securing surface 67 on the rear wall 32 in such manner as to cause the housing 14 to become a rigid and relatively inflexible part of the frame 19.

I claim:

1. An engine frame comprising a block having end walls and having oppositely disposed pairs of obliquely disposed inner and outer side walls on opposite sides of the central vertical plane of said engine and having rows of cylinder walls between said pairs of side walls and having inner and outer transverse walls across the opposite extremities of said cylinder walls and the inner and outer extremities of said pairs of side walls and the opposite sides of said end walls, said outer transverse walls being disposed substantially normally to said cylinder walls and to each pair of said inner and outer side walls, said end walls between said inner side walls terminating in connecting edges extending inwardly of the planes of the outer surfaces of said outer transverse walls, pairs of heads having end walls and inner and outer side walls and inner and outer transverse walls, said inner side walls of said heads being positioned to converge out wardly and away from the central vertical plane of said engine, means for securing said heads to said block with the inner transverse walls thereof engaging said outer transverse walls of said bloclna truss structure having side walls and a connecting wall extending between said truss structure side walls, and means for securing said truss structure to said heads and said block with said truss structure side walls engaging said inner side Walls of said heads and said connecting Wall engaging said connecting edges of said end walls of said block.

2. An engine frame as defined by claim 1 and in which said inner and outer transverse walls of said heads lie substantially in the planes of inner and outer structural elements of said truss structure.

3. An engine frame comprising a block having end walls and having oppositely disposed pairs of obliquely disposed inner and outer side Walls on opposite sides of the central vertical plane of said engine and having rows of cylinder walls between said pairs of side walls and having inner and outer transverse walls across the opposite extremities of said cylinder walls and the inner and outer extremities of said pairs of side walls and the opposite sides of said end walls, said outer transverse walls being disposed substantially normally to said cylinder walls and each pair of said inner and outer side walls, said end Walls between said inner side walls terminating in oppositely disposed edges extending inwardly in the planes of the outer surfaces of said outer transverse walls and between said oppositely disposed edges in connecting edges in the horizontal plane of said engine, pairs of heads having end walls and inner and outer side walls and inner and outer transverse walls, means for securing said heads to said block with the inner transverse walls thereof engaging said outer transverse Walls of said block and said oppositely disposed edges of said end walls, a truss structure having side walls and a connecting wall extending between said truss structure side walls, and means for securing said truss structure to said heads and said block with said truss structure side walls engaging said inner side walls of said heads, and said connecting wall engaging said connecting edges of end walls of said block.

4. An engine frame comprising a block having end walls and having oppositely disposed pairs of obliquely disposed inner and outer side walls on opposite sides of the vertical plane of said engine and having rows of cylinder walls between said pairs of side walls and having inner and outer transverse walls across the opposite extremities of said cylinder walls and the inner and outer extremities of said pairs of side walls and the opposite sides of said end walls, and a bridging wall formed in said block and merging with the inner extremities of said inner side walls and said inner transverse walls and extending across the space between the inner ends of said rows of cylinders, said bridging wall and said block being re-enforced by a plurality of columns extending throughout the length of said bridging wall with a pair of said columns being located at the opposite sides of said bridging wall and merging with said inner side walls and said inner transverse walls and with another of said columns being disposed along the middle of said bridging wall and between said pair of columns.

5. An engine frame comprising a block having end walls and having oppositely disposed pairs of obliquely disposed inner and outer side walls on opposite sides of the central vertical plane of said engine and having rows of cylinder walls between said pairs of side walls and having inner and outer transverse walls across the opposite extremities of said cylinder walls and the inner and outer extremities of said pairs of side walls and the opposite sides of said end walls, said outer transverse walls being disposed substantially normally to said cylinder walls and to each pair of said inner and outer side walls, said end walls being disposed at the front and rear ends of said block with said rear end wall being formed to extend upwardly and outwardly a substantial distance beyond a horizontal plane through the outer extremities of said inner side walls and being formed to extend outwardly in opposite directions beyond said outer side walls and to terminate in edges disposed adjacent the outer extremities of said outer side walls and extending downwardly substantially in; parallel relation to the central vertical plane of said engine, said rear end wall on the outer-surface thereof being formed to provide securing surface means extending downwardly in opposite directions from immediately adjacent the upper extremity of said rear end wall and outwardly and downwardly substantially to the oppositely disposed and outer extremities of said outer side walls and downwardly adjacent said substantially parallel edges of said rear end Wall, clutch housing means having a securing flange formed to extend in directly opposed relation to said securing surfaces on said rear wall, and means for rigidly securing said securing flange upon said securing surfaces, said clutch housing being formed to extend rearwardly of said rear wall and to terminate at the rear end thereof in securing means, said clutch housing between said securing flange and said securing means and immediately adjacent said rear wall being formed to slope downwardly and inwardly to provide obliquely disposed and substantially linear bracing means extending between said supporting means and the upper and oppositely disposed extremities of said rear wall of said block.

6. An engine frame comprising a block having rows of cylinders formed therein and having a rear end wall extending across the ends of said rows of cylinders and upwardly beyond the outer extremities of the cylinders in said rows, said rear end wall on the outer surface thereof being formed to provide securing surface means extending downwardly in opposite directions from immediately adjacent the upper extremity of said rear end wall and from above said ends of said cylinders and outwardly and downwardly substantially to the oppositely disposed and outer extremities of said rear end wall and adjacent the opposite edges of said rear end wall, a clutch housing having a securing flange formed to extend in directly opposed relation to said securing surfaces on said rear wall, and means for rigidly securing said securing flange upon said securing surfaces, said clutch housing being formed to extend rearwardly of said rear wall and to terminate at the rear end thereof in securing means, said clutch housing between said securing flange and said securing means and immediately adjacent said rear wall being formed to slope downwardly and inwardly to provide obliquely disposed and substantially linear bracing means extending between said supporting means and the upper and oppositely disposed extremities of said rear wall of said block.

7. An engine frame as defined by claim 6 and in which said rows of cylinders are obliquely disposed rows of cylinders and in which said rear wall of said block extends downwardly along the outer extremities of said cylinders and terminates in said opposite edges adjacent which said securing flange is engaged.

8. An engine frame comprising a block having end walls and having oppositely disposed pairs of obliquely disposed inner and outer side walls on opposite sides of the central vertical plane of said engine and having rows of cylinder walls between said pair of side walls and having inner and outer transverse walls across the opposite extermities of said cylinder walls and the inner and outer extremities of said pairs of said side walls and opposite sides of said end walls, said end walls between said inner side walls terminating in connecting edges extending inwardly of the planes of the outer surfaces of said outer transverse walls, pairs of heads havingtend walls and inner and outer side walls and inner and outer transverse Walls, means for securing said heads to said block with the inner transverse walls thereof engaging 5 said outer transverse walls of said block, a truss structure having side walls and a connecting Wall extending between said truss structure side walls, and means for securing said truss structure to said heads and said block with said truss structure side walls engaging said inner side walls of said heads and said connecting wall engaging said connecting edges of said end walls of said block.

9. An engine frame as defined by claim 8 and including a clutch housing extending rearwardly from one of said end walls of said block, said clutch housing being formed to slope upwardly with respect to said one end wall and to terminate at said one end wall above a horizontal plane through the upper extremities of said cylinder walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,623,462 Belden Apr. 5, 1927 1,895,981 Edwards Jan. 31, 1933 2,113,077 Bu-chi Apr. 5, 1938 2,160,922 Sullivan June 6, 1939 2,669,227 Drinkard Feb. 16, 1954 

